The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is one of the two main social security organization under the Government of India's Ministry of Labour and Employment and is responsible for regulation and management of provident funds in India, the other being Employees' State Insurance. The EPFO administers the mandatory provident fund, a basic pension scheme and a disability/death insurance scheme. It also manages social security agreements with other countries. International workers are covered under EPFO plans in countries where bilateral agreements have been signed. As of May 2021, 19 such agreements are in place. The EPFO's top decision-making body is the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), a statutory body established by the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF&MP) Act, 1952. As of 2018, more than 11 lakh crore (US$157.8 billion) are under EPFO management.
On 1 October 2014 the Government of India launched a Universal Account Number for employees covered by EPFO to enable Provident Fund number portability.
Origins
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) holds a pivotal role in India's social security system, dedicated to ensuring the financial security of employees. Operating under the jurisdiction of the Government of India's Ministry of Labour and Employment, the EPFO is entrusted with the regulation and oversight of provident funds in the nation, in conjunction with the Employees' State Insurance. Its establishment dates back to 1951 through the enactment of the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF&MP) Act. The EPFO's responsibilities encompass the management of mandatory provident funds, fundamental pension schemes, disability and death insurance, as well as the facilitation of social security agreements with various international partners.
The first Provident Fund Act, passed in 1925 for regulating the provident funds of some private concerns, was limited in scope. In 1929, the Royal Commission on Labour stressed the need for creating provident funds for industrial workers. In the Indian Labour Conference held in 1948, it was generally agreed that the introduction of a statutory provident fund for industrial workers should be undertaken. The Coal Mines Provident Fund Scheme was launched in 1948. The success of this fund led to demand for its expansion to other industries.
The Constitution of India enacted in 1950 a non-justiciable directive that the State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity, make effective provisions for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old-age, sickness & disablement and undeserved want. Accordingly, the last months of 1951 witnessed the promulgation of the Employees' Provident Funds Ordinance, which came into effect on 15 November 1951. It was replaced by the Employees' Provident Funds Act, which extended to the whole of India except Jammu & Kashmir. The Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, framed under Section 5 of the Act, was introduced in stages and came into force in its entirety by 1 November 1952. The cement, cigarette, electric, mechanical and general engineering products, iron, steel, paper, and textile industries were affected by the Act. The Acts and Schemes framed under it are administered by the Central Board of Trustees, which consists of representatives of Central and State governments, employers, and employees. The Board administers a contributory provident fund, pension scheme and an insurance scheme for the workforce engaged in the organized sector in India. The board is chaired by the Union Labour Minister of India.
Presently, the following three schemes are in operation under the Act: Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976 Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 (replacing the Employees' Family Pension Scheme, 1971)
Recent developments
In March 2022, the EPFO lowered the interest rate on employee provident funds to 8.10% for 2021-22,The EPFO lowered the interest rate of 8.10% for the fiscal year of 2021-22.
On 30 August 2022, EPFO proposed to remove the restrictions on the wage ceiling and headcount to allow all formal workers and self-employed to enrol in its retirement saving schemes.
